Sporting news

Published on Sep. 12, 2015

Sep. 12, 2015

James Blake wants justice.

One day after the NYPD released video footage of officer James Frascatore wrongly arresting and aggressively taking the former tennis player to the ground, Blake is taking a stand. The NYPD apologies aren't enough. He wants Frascatore fired.

"I don't think this person should ever have a badge or gun again," Blake said, via ESPN in the US.

Frascatore comes with baggage. The officer faces four complaints of police misconduct filed to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, according to The Associated Press. One of those claims included allegations of not only physical abuse, but racial epithets directed at Stefon Luckey outside a deli in Queens.

"This person doesn't ever belong in the same sentence with the heroes that are doing the right kind of police work and keeping the public safe," Blake said.

The arrest has played out in the public eye, underscoring a trend first brought to light by the July 2014 death of New York City resident Eric Garner, who died while police held him in a chokehold. Allegations of police malpractice in New York City have reached record numbers in recent years, according to city data.

Though Blake has been reticent to raise the issue of race regarding the Frascatore incident, he has voiced a willingness to use his relatively privileged position to make sure people with smaller platforms don't continue to suffer the same fate.

"I know that a lot of people have no voice to have any recourse and I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to be sitting here with you," Blake told Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America."

"To be able to tell this story and let people know that this happens too happen."

Blake also said his lack of resistance might have saved his life, given the nation's social climate and in light of recent events. Resistance that, considering the circumstances, would have been justified.

"I think about how scary it would have been had I put my arms up and done the normal reaction ... to defend myself," Blake told CNN's Don Lemon on Saturday. "If I had any sort of resistance, I wonder what could have happened. I could have broken bones, a concussion or worse."

Blake last played in 2013 and last peaked at No. 4 in the world in 2006. But as the U.S. Open reaches its finale Sunday, Blake has become a central storyline in the Big Apple. And he hopes that story leads to big consequences.